040502 Screen Daily

April 5, 2002
Screen Daily
Stars, crew take $3m deferrals to save Cromwell
by Adam Minns in London

Stars Rupert Everett, Tim Roth, Dougray Scott and Olivia Williams have agreed to take deferments worth around $3 million to help save troubled period production Cromwell & Fairfax.

The producers, crew and suppliers on the $20 million Natural Nylon production are also contributing to the deferrals after shooting ground to a halt last month when the original financing arrangements could not be completed. Scott, who has been working on the English Civil War story for more than two years, used close to $100,000 of his own money to pay wages when production stopped.

"There are some things in life you just cannot walk away from," said Scott, who plays Roundhead general Thomas Fairfax. "This is one of them. It feels special".

Under a refinancing plan frantically pieced together over the last three weeks, Screenland Movieworld is putting in some $2.2 million. The German fund was part of the original financing scheme under sales company IAC and contributing heavily to the initial production costs before the film collapsed. Christopher Petzel and Scott Karol of Fierce Entertainment, who represent Screenland’s investment in the film, have been working closely with producer Kevin Loader and Natural Nylon’s chief operating officer Tony Miller to put alternative financing in place.

"Christopher Petzel and Scott Karol have worked relentlessly over the past few crucial weeks to keep the film alive," said Loader, whose credits include Captain Corelli's Mandolin. "It’s no exaggeration to say that without them, this film would have fallen apart. We’ve also had the amazing support of our cast and crew, who have not only stuck with the film, but have also agreed to take deferred fees to complete the production".

Also instrumental is UK-based sales outfit HanWay, which took worldwide rights after viewing footage from the first three weeks of production, including the execution of King Charles I, played by Everett. HanWay and its financing partners DZ Bank and Visionview, introduced to the project by director Mike Barker's agency Peters Fraser & Dunlop, are thought to be covering around $7.5 million. HanWay's investment includes putting up an advance against Spain after IAC's original Spanish distributor failed to materialise.

"Ten days to raise $20 million has got to be a record," said Peter Watson, chief executive of the sales company's parent, Recorded Picture Company.

Future Filmgroup is providing a sales and leaseback deal, deferring costs at its post production operation and putting in equity worth around $500,000.